Count of Monte Cristo

Honor is an attribute acquired by one over some period of time. Before obtaining an honorable status, one is highly respected for a particular reason. This respect directed towards them eventually evolves to the title of honor. It is not something simply attainable and it can also be easily eradicated. As long as this person dubbed as honorable can live up to all their expectations, they’ll be respected for as long as they live. In the novel, The Count of Monte Cristo, majority of the characters have some sort of honorable status to their name either by affiliation or simply for who they are. Honor and Respect seems to be a recurring theme in this text and it ultimately dictates the flow of the plot. A few prominent characters are highly respected in the text specifically for their duties and personality. Edmond Dantès is greatly respected and known for being a great sailor. The well-known ship owner, Monsieur Morrel is also a very honorable man known for his hospitality and kindness.

Edmond Dantès is a dashing young man who has everything a man strives to receive. He’s an experienced seaman at such a young age. He is only in his twenties and is already being considered for the role of captain: “‘Why should we not give him the post? I know he is young but he seems to be an able and thoroughly experienced seaman’” (Dumas 14). He is also known for being engaged to a gorgeous woman named Mercédès. She is so attractive that Edmond is commended for being engaged to such a beauty, many felt he was “‘to be envied: she [Mercédès] is a handsome girl’” (17). Besides his elderly father, Mercédès is the sole person in his life that he loves unconditionally. He is well liked and respected by everyone because he is also a good man with respectable values. It is evident throughout the text that people admire him. While on board the famous Pharoan, Edmond shouted orders to the crew aboard and the orders were “executed as promptly as on board a man-of-war” (13). He is obviously influential. Surprisingly, the only thing Edmond lacked was financial support. He is not very wealthy and he works extremely hard to make ends meet for him and his father. With much authority and lack of wealth, Edmond manages to remain humble and kind. Upon returning from his lengthy trip, Edmond sees that his father was living off of sixty francs for a period of three months. His father was forced to live like this because of the debt he owed to Caderousse. Despite Caderousse’s cold and heartless decision to demand money from a poor man, Edmond continues to remain respectful: “‘[I’m] ready to serve you [Caderousse] in any way,’ Dantès answered, but ill concealing his coldness” (21). Edmond, without a doubt, exhibits all the traits of an honorable man and he also acknowledges that there are people just as admirable as him such as Monsieur Morrel.

The well renowned ship, Pharoan, is owned by Monsieur Morrel. As described in the text, this ship is of great significance to these people: “The usual crowd of curious spectators immediately filled the quay of Fort Saint-Jean, for at Marseilles the arrival of a ship is always a great event, especially when that ship … belongs to a shipowner of their own town” (11). The citizens of Marseilles have a great deal of respect for Monsieur Morrel. He works very hard and his diligence pays off because he was known for being a very wealthy man. While many prosperous people are often stereotyped as ‘snobby’, Morrel is one of the few affluent people who remains kind-hearted. It is such an honor to even be in Monsieur Morrel’s presence and people actually cherish that moment. When Edmond chose to visit his father over having dinner with Morrel, many thought he was “‘wrong to refuse to dine with him’” (22). Edmond’s decision to visit his elderly father instead of dining with Morrel was seen as disrespectful but this was not his intention at all. Edmond has expressed: “‘I respect Monsieur Morrel’” (48). As mentioned before, Monsieur Morrel spent most of his whole life swimming in wealth until he ran into some debts. Suddenly without notice, Morrel’s business began to spiral downward and he only received visits from companies demanding money from him. Morrel’s wealth contributed to his role of honor because as the saying goes: Money equals Power and Power equals Respect. However, prosperity was not the sole reason: “Coclès had remained in M. Morrel’s service … it was the same good, patient Coclès” (169). Despite Morrel’s misfortune, one of his workers continued to be of service to him. Morrel’s role of honor is so strong that he is cherished in good times and bad. Apparently, honor is of great importance to many and people go through great lengths to make certain that dishonor is never affiliated with their name.

The role of honor was an important theme throughout the text and it ultimately explained why certain things happened in the novel. In order to preserve their title, desperate measures were taken. For example, the honorable Monsieur Morrel was willing to kill himself in order to remain honorable. He was known as honorable throughout the novel however he felt he had brought shame to his name with all the debts he owed. To eradicate the dishonor that would be affiliated with his name, Monsieur Morrel opted to take his life. However, he was saved. Maximilian, Monsieur Morrel’s son, spoke of the “‘man who saved my father from death, all of us from ruin, and our name from dishonor’” (276). Sinbad the Sailor was the man who eliminated all of Morrel’s debts and it is evident that respect for Morrel never died. The reigning theme of honor also applied to the admired Edmond Dantès. People even went out of their way to show respect for Edmond and his fiance Mercédès: “In order to do honour to the happy couple they had donned their finest clothes” (32). Apparently casual wear would have been a sign of disrespect towards the couple.

Being known as honorable is a wonderful asset. As illustrated in the text, it all began with respect. These characters were respected for the things they do then this admiration evolved to honor because of who they were. Edmond was very successful yet he was poor and he remained very kind. Monsieur Morrel was also a very kind hearted man who was rich. Even when he went broke, he remained kind and people still honored him. Honor was of great significance to many in this text; so much that it dictated much of what happened in the text. Monsieur Morrel was ready to give his life just to keep honor in his family name. That is dedication and anyone who would take drastic measures like such deserve to be respected as much as they are.